Apparatus for making headers



April 21, 1942. w. M. PAlKER El AL APPARATUS FOR maxim HEADERS Filed Aug. 12, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1,

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Film-Au 12, 1940 5 SheetS-Sheet 2 A fil 21', 1942.

, w. M. PARKER ETAL APPARATUS, FOR MAKING fiswmns A FiIedAug. 12,1940

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 April w. MQPARKER- EI'AL 4 ,280,255 I r I APPARATUS FOR, MAKING hummus File d Aug. 12, 1940 s Sha ds-Sheet! 5 Sheets-She et 5 2 w. M. PARKER ETAL APPARATUS Fok MAKING HEADERS FiledAugL lZ, 1940 April 21, 1942.

Patented Apr. 21, 1942 UNITED STATE sP TE NT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR MAKING HEADERS William M. Parker, Robert A. Gray, and John E. I

Gray, Port Huron, Mich., assignors to Mueller n, MiclL, a corporation of Brass 00., Port Huro Michigan Application August 12,1940, Serial No. 352,194

' Claims." (Cl. 153-2). I

} openings in the wall of standard wrought metal tubing or pipe without pre-treatment of the tubing other than that involved-in the formation of the tubing itself.

Another object is the provision of mechanism by which a series of flanged openings can be formed in long lengths of tubing which can afterwards be cut to suitable lengthsfor header purposes.

Another object out our invention.

Referring to'th e drawings,

sure system for operating the flanged opening forming mechanism; and

Figs. to 19, inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustrating the operations of the forming mechanism and controls through the cycle involving the clamping of the tubular member, the

formation of the flanged opening, and the release of the mechanism.

is the formationof different sized flanged openings in differentparts of the Fig. l-is a view in front elevation of a forming mechanism and tube feeding mechanism embodying our invention; H

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tube feeding mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailvertic al section of the tube clamping andflange forming mechanism substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4. is an enlarged detail section on the line] 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view, partly in .section, on the line 5-5. of Fig. 2:

Fig. 6 is a detail plan of the ratchet of the tube feeding mechanism;

Fig. 'I is a detail elevation of the mechanism ofFig.6;. A

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the tube feeding mechanism at the left side of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse section on .line 98 of Fig. 2; v

Fig. 10 is a detail section on line of Fig.2;

Fig. 11 is a detail section on line H- -H of Fig. 12 is an end elevation at the right side of Fig. 1 of the fluid control valve;

Fig. 13 is anenlarged detail section of th valve shown in Fig; 12;

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view of fluid presthen out it into header lengths.

Our invention is intended more particularly to form outwardlyflanged openings at intervals in long lengths of wrought metal, preferably copper, tubing from which shorter lengths are cut to form headers. A length of such wrought tubing is shown at A in Fig. 2 having several flanged openings I formed in the wall thereof. The flanged openings are very accurate since they are intended to receive the ends of inserted tubing or pipe so that a soldered joint can be made, and the flanges thus form sockets for. thetube ends with capillary spacing between the flange walls and the'tube walls for the solder. flanged openings are shown most clearly in Figs.

3,4, and 19.' The flanges 2 are integral with. and extend ou wardly from the wall of, the tub ing A, are cyindrical, and their axes are at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the poses andthen flanged,f-but it ismore economical l 1 and rapid to flange longflengths' or tubing and The tu n A is gripped between upper and lower clamping members .5 and '6, and held thereby while the flanged openings are formed therein. The lower clamp 5 is stationary and held in position in the base or bed 01' hemechine by pins 8, so thatit maybe changed to provide for different sized tubing. The upper clamp 5 is movable vertically toward and from the lower clamp, so that the tube may be inserted, shifted and removed. This clamp is car ried by a head member 9 which is guided vertically by 'gibs Ill mounted on the upright memhers I I of the frame, and is operated by a crankshaft I! also mounted in said frame uprights. The. crankshaft is connected with the head by means of connecting rods l4, so that vertical reciprocation isimparted to the upper clamp. Any suitable power means and control therefor may be used to drive the crankshaft so that at each revolution of the crankshaft" the clamp will be given a cycle of movement during which the hanging operation takes place. The upper The ' is arranged to handle any length;

' clamp 5 is removably secured to the head by means of bolts 15, which permits the use of different sized clamps for different size tubing.

Both clamping members 5 and 6 have semicylindrical channels I6 and I1 conformed to the diameter of the tubing and adapted, when the clamps are together. to firmly grip a portion of vthe length of the tubing and hold it against disopposite sides of the tubing, the series 'may be formed along one side and the tubing rotated 180 and the second series formed. The groove l8 permits the first formed flanges to clear when the tubing is shifted longitudinally during the formation of the second series.

Within the channels l5 and ll of the clamping members is a cylindrical mandrel which carries a piercing and flanging die 2|. This mandrel is held against longitudinal movement by a long tubular member 22. to one end of which it is attached (Fig. 4). The other end of the tubular member 22 is held in a post or other suitable support 23 (Fig. 2), which is spaced far enough away from the flange forming mechanism to accommodate the full length of tubing A. This tubular member 22 also serves as a 7 connection for carrying fluid under pressure to nally when the clamping pressure is released.

The piercing and flanging die 2| is cylindrical in form and operates in a cylindrical recess 23 in the mandrel in much the same manner as a piston within a cylinder. It is of such length that when in a lowered position in the cylindrical re- I cess 23 it is entirely within the confines of the diameter of the mandrel, but when fluid under pressure is .admitted to the cylinder 23 the die 2| is forced radially upward through. the wall of the tube to-pierce the tube and form the flange 2. The upper end portion is smaller in diameter and formed as a piercing die for piercing a hole in the wall of the tubing by removing therefrom a small disc or slug of-met-al 25, Figs. 3 and 4. The shoulder 26 formed by the reduced diameter of the piercing die is tapered or rounded so that after the piercing die-has formed the hole in the wall of the tubing, the continued movement of the member 2| causesthis shoulder to engage and begin adrawing operation upon the marginal metal surrounding the opening. This drawing operation continues until the marginal metal. is

forced outwardlyinto the cylindrical flange 2. The inside diameter of the flange is accurately determined by. the cylindrical portion of the member 2|. r g v I The piercing and forming die 2| enters a cylindrical recess 21 in the upper clamping member'ii which is sufficiently larger in diameter than the member 2|,,.to accommodate the metal of the flange 2 and which forms the female die which determines the outer diameter of the flange.

diameter extends from the shoulder 28 upwardly through the upper clamping member 5 and head 9, and in this bore is provided a push rod 30 (Figs. 1 and 19) which engages the end of the piercing and forming die 2| and pushes it downwardly into its normal position within the cylinder 23 as the upper clamping member 5 recedes or separates from the lower clamp after the flange formation is complete. The pusl. rod 30 is given a downward stroke by a cam 3| on the crankshaft l2. It carries on its upper end a roller 32 which rides on the cam. The rod is given an upward or restoring stroke by a spring 33 positioned between the head 9 and a collar 34 on the rod. The operation of the rod is timed with relation to the clamp so that as the upper clamp 5 is retracted upwardly the rod starts after the fluid pressure 'in cylinder 23 has been released by the control valve C.

During each operation the disc or slug 25 pierced from the tubing may-be removed in any suitable manner such as by means of a stream of compressed air directed against the slug to blow the slug out of the mechanism. For this purpose a slot 21* is provided in the clamp which intersects the cylindrical recess 21 so that as the slug is carried upward by the member 2|, the stream of air through the slot carries the slug out through the slot.

The control valve C (Figs. 12 and 13) is mounted at one side of the machine on the frame uprights II in position to be operated by a cam 35 carried by the flywheel 36 on the crankshaft l2. The valve comprises a casing 31 having a cylinder 38 in which a piston 39 is reciprocated by the cam 35, and the piston has a roller 40 on its upper end which bears on the end of an arm 4| pivoted at 42 on the machine frame. The arm in turn carries a roller 23 adapted to be engaged by the cam 35. Thus when the cam 35 engages the roller during its rotation by the flywheel, the valve piston 39 is moved downwardly to its lower position in cylinder 38 The. piston is moved to its upper position by fluid pressure when the cam 35 has moved from engagement with roller 40. 1

Fig. 14 shows the hydraulic system of connections by which pressure is applied to the flange forming die 2|. r

As shown in Figs. 13 and '14, the valve casing has a passage 43 which communicates with the lower end of the cylinder chamber and is con- 41 and 48. The port 48 registers witha port 49 in the casing when the piston is'in its lower'position, and the port 41 registers with the port 50 when the piston is in its upper position. The port 49 is connected by the pipe 5| to the long pipe 22 to which the mandrel 29 is connected, as

hereinbefore described. The mandrel has (Fig. 4) a passage 52 which leads to the lower end of the forming die cylinder 23 to carry fluid pressure to said cylinder. Thus when the valve piston is in its lower position, fluid under pressure is applied directly to the die cylinder 23 to actuate said die member for piercing the tubing and forming the flange therein, as hereinbefore explained. The port 59 of the valve is connected by a pipe 53 which leads to a suitable reservoir 54. Thus when the piston is in its upper position, the port 49 is closed and the fluid under pressure will circulate through. the; valve and pipe 53back to the reservoir 54.

In order to relieve the pressure. upon ing die 23, the piston has an annular groove or The tube feeding mechanism (Figs. 1 to 10) includes a carriage D' which is mounted to slide the, formchannel 55 which connects the port, with another port 56 when the piston is in itsupper position, this port 56 being connected'by a pipe 51 to the return pipe 53. This forms a by-pass which not only relieves the pressure on the pipe 5|; but also permits whatever fluid is displaced in the cylinder by the downward movement of invention this cycle of operation is intended to occur during one revolution of the crankshaft,

this being a convenient way to operate the machine so that. it can be stopped each time after each revolution of the crankshaft to permit the tubing to be shifted to a new position.

Referring-to Figs. 15 and 19, the crankshaft, fly-wheel and connecting rods for operating the clamp 5, and the cams for operating the ejector 'or push rod 30, and the control valve are illustrated diagrammatically to show their timed relation. The direction of rotation of the crankshaft is indicated by, an arrow. y

1 In Fig. 15, the clamp 5 is shown in raised position, the tubing A is in position in the lower clamp and enclosing the mandrel '20, and the forming die 2| in its lower or normal position. The

crankshaft is started and the clamping member 5'is brought down in clamping -relation to the tubing A, as shown in Fig. 16. The cam 35 is about to engage the roller 43 and force the valve piston to its lower position which admits of pressure to the cylinder 23 which forces the forming die 2| upwardly to pierce the tubing and form' the flange. The position of the parts is illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18. During this portion of the rotation of the crankshaft,'the cam 35 has actuated the valve and allowed the valve piston to move upwardly and relieve the pressure upon the forming die 2|, as shown inFig. l8. In Fig. 19, the crankshaft is shown as haviri'g; carried the clamp 5 upwardly and thecarn' ,3I a ,i operating the push rod downwardly to r':'s"t'cire-" the forming die 2| to its normal position; within the mandrel. When the parts reach ,the position shown in Fig. 15, the cam 3| "will have ridden olT the push rodwhich will be restored to its upper position by the spring 33. The crankshaft is then stopped, the tubing AQ-is' shifted lengthwise to a new position, and; thcycle is repeated. A j i We have illustrated the formation of a single flanged opening by a single piercing and forming die, but it is obvious that several flanged openings may be simultaneously formed by multiplying the number of piercing and forming dies. It is likewise obvious that the piercing and flange forming operations may be' made by separate dies simultaneously operated; that is, one of the die members 2| may be simply a piercing die to pierce the hole in the tubing and the other die 2| employed as a flange forming die. In this manner a flange can be formed and a hole can be simultaneously pierced in the tubing in advance of the formation of the flange. At each shift of the tubing the flange will be formed around the hole previously pierced in advance.

lengthwise on supporting guide rods 60. guide rods are secured at their inner ends in blocks 6| mounted on the bed I of the machine adjacent the tube clamps, and at their outer ends are .securedto apost or standard 62. The

carriage D has a clamp for gripping the outer end of the tube length A so as to impart movement to the tube and prevent the rotation of the tube to insure the alignment of the series of flanged openings.

This clamp consists --or the head plate 63 upon which is removably mounted a clamping member 54. This clamping member consists of a segmental plate having a central opening for the tubing formed between two parallel arms 65 which extend upwardly and which are adapted to be drawn together by a screw 66 to grip the tubing. This clamping member is made removable so that difierent sized clamps may be used for different sized tubing. A removable plug 61 (Fig. 11), fittlng within the end of the tubing is providedto prevent'the distortion of the tube by the clamping of the end thereof. .This plug is held in place by a set screw 59 (Fig. 9).

The carriage D ismoved along the-guides 60 to feed the tubing by arack 68 and pinion 69,. The rack is secured at one end 10 to the carriage D and is guided and supported by/a shoulder H on the block 6| to which the guide rods are secured. Farther to the right the rack is also supported and guided by a guide member 12 mounted on the base I of the machine. The pinion 69 is rotatable on a stud I3 on an adjustable support consisting of the two members 14 and 15 which are clamped together by screws 16, An adjustment screw Tl permits the pinion to be adjusted with respect to the rack or to be dis,- connected entirely from the rack in the event that the feed mechanism is not to 1 be used. A

ratchet wheel 18 is connected'with the hubof the pinion 69 andis adapted to be engaged by a pawl. 19 carriedon a hand-operated lever 80 tailpiece82 on the pawl for holding the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel. :The

" pawl is latchedout of engagement with the ratchet; wheel after the completion of the flange I forming'operationsthroughout the length of the tube, so that. the carriage and the tubing can be manually retracted for its full length and re moved fromv the machine;

The hand lever is pivoted on the stud 'I3 and swings over a quadrant 83 which carries limit stop. blocks 84, 85. The stop 84 is fixed in place a and: has an overhanging portion 86 having a spring-pressed button 81 which engages a depression 38 in the lever for holding the lever in position against the stop. The other stop is adjustable on the quadrant, holes 89 being pro; vided for this purpose, to vary the are of movement of the lever. This provides a means by which the tubing A can be advanced a definite distance each time to accurately space the flanged openings, and the adjustable block 85 enables the spacing to be' changed as desired.

On one of the guide rods 60 is a slidable stop 90 which can be adjusted along the guide to act as a gauge for determining the location of the first flanged opening formed for each length of tubing.

7 It is obvious that other forms of mechanism than that shown in the drawings, within the scope and spirit of the invention, may be embination of clamping mechanism for the tubing including separable jaws adapted to embrace the tubing, means for separating said jaws to release the tubing, a mandrel within the tubing between the jaws, and a hydraulically actuated die member within said mandrel arranged to be forced radially outwardly to perforate the tubing wall and form a flange of the metal surrounding the perforated opening; means for supplying fluid under pressure to actuate said die; and means operable upon the separation of said jaws for re-- storing the die member.

2. In a mechanism for forming an outwardly flanged opening in the wall of tubing, the combination of separable clamping jaws adapted to embrace the tubing, a mandrel positioned between the jaws and within and substantially fitting the tubing to retain the form of the tubing, a cylindrical, radially movable die member, said mandrel having a cylindrical recess for said die member, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said recess to force the die member outwardly through the wall of the tubing,

said die. member being formed to pierce an opening in the tube wall and flange outwardly the metal surrounding the opening during the outward movement of the die member; and' an exterior plunger acting through the flanged opening for moving the die member radially inwardly to restore it to its normal position in the cylindrical recess.

3. In a mechanism for forming an outwardly flanged opening in the wall of tubing, the combination of a pair of clamping jaws arranged to embrace the tubing and a mandrel positioned between the dies and within the tubing; flange 'forming die mechanism for forming an opening in the wall of the tubing and a flange of the metal surrounding the opening, said mechanism including a cylindrical female die portion in one of said jaws and a radially movable male die member in said mandrel adapted to pierce the tubing wall and enter said recess to draw the metal surrounding the wall outwardly to form a cylindrical flange; a source of fluid under pressure connected with said mandrel for actuating said movable die; and means operable upon the separation of said jaws for pushing the die member radially inwardly to a position within the confines of the mandrel.

4. The combination of a tube clamping mech-- anism, a cylindrical mandrelwithin and substantially fitting the tubing to retain the form there of and having a cylindrical recess therein connected with a source ,of hydraulic pressure, a. piston in said recess normally within the confines of said mandrel and responsive to fluid pressure and having a perforating die portion and a cylindrical flange forming portion; means controlling said pressure to force the perforating die and flange forming portion outwardly through the wall of the tubing; and a plunger positioned exteriorly of the tubing and acting through the opening formed by the die to push said piston inwardly to normal position within said recess.

5. In a mechanism for forming a series of flanged openings along the wall of a long length of metal tubing, the combination of separable clamping jaws, a mandrel positioned between the clamping jaws and substantially fitting within the tubing to retain the form of said tubing and having a hydraulically actuated die member for forming an outwardly flanged opening in the wall of the tubing, a pipe connected to said mandrel for holding said mandrel in position and forming a connection for hydraulic pressure to said flange forming mechanism, said pipe being itself supported sufliciently distant from the mandrel to accommodate the fulllength of the tubing, a carriage to which the tubing is secured at one end for shifting the tubing lengthwise on said mandrel after each flanged opening is formed to space the flanged openings in alignment along thetubing, and means for actuating said carriage.

WILLIAM M. PARKER.

ROBERT A. GRAY.

JOHN E. GRAY. 

